Supported by funding from the Office of the Third Sector, Communities and Local Government have commissioned the DTA, in conjunction with Cooperatives UK and the SROI UK Network, to deliver an action research learning project from January 2009 to March 2011 to:

• Produce best practice advice and guidance covering aspects of the issuance of shares, legal compliance, structure of offers;
• To support 10 community enterprises through the journey of raising equity finance using IPSs as the legal form;
• To assess the social impact achieved through this form of community enterprise;
• To advise on good governance and mechanisms for self regulation of the market place;
• To provide training to social enterprise advisors in community shares.

Research proposal:

In order to further assist communities wishing to raise equity finance to progress with asset based transfer and development, and to reduce transaction time and costs as well as to enable more reliable and successful equity raising by groups, it is now proposed to undertake some primary research into past share issues to try to discover the profile of community share investors – the target market.

Such research would attempt to discover:

• Who is buying community shares?
• What were/are their motivations for buying shares?
• What were the important variables in terms of local investment, financial and social returns on investment?
• To offer some further insight in how best to reach end investors and which marketing techniques are best suited to this form of capital raising.

Who should tender:

We are looking for high quality market research experience. Familiarity with community shares/IPS legal form and asset based development would be an advantage.

Timescale and how to apply:

Your Tender must be received by noon on 12/03/10 in the form as specified in the Invitation to Tender package.

Any questions and clarification should be directed to Hugh Rolo (Head of Assets and Investments, DTA) at: h.rolo@dta.org.uk